Annual Meeting Set for February 16
Posted by Dan | Filed under Uncategorized
Make your reservations now for the 2012 annual general membership meeting of the Sonoma County Taxpayers’ Association. We are particularly privileged to have as our guest speaker Dan Walters, syndicated columnist for the Sacramento Bee. Mr. Walters’ insights and observations into the goings-on in Sacramento and around the state are always informative and entertaining. We are also pleased to present the Spencer Flournoy Good Government Award to Rohnert Park City Manager Gabe Gonzalez in recognition of his successful efforts to renegotiate that city’s labor contracts as well as other financial reforms to a city on the verge of bankruptcy. The meeting starts at noon at the Fountaingrove Inn in Santa Rosa on February 16. Cost is $35 and lunch is provided. The annual meeting is always well attended so make your reservations early by calling the Association at 481-1089 or e-mailing to taxpayer@sonic.net.
Roads Sacrificed to Save Pensions
Posted by Dan | Filed under Uncategorized
Anyone with a passing familiarity with rural Sonoma County knows that the deterioration of our roads is reaching crisis levels. The sorry state of our crumbling county road system is directly correlated to insufficient funding for road maintenance and preservation. (more…)
Water and Waste Water Reuse
Posted by scta | Filed under Miscellaneous, Uncategorized
No single issue impacts Sonoma County’s long term economic viability thatn the availablity of water for homes, agriculture and business, as well as the appropriate use and distribution of waste water which is an intergral part of our water supply. Recent discussions by the Board of Supervisors and the County Water Agency translate into a need for all impacted agencies and especially municipal water utilities and waste water treatment and distribution entities along with conservation and fish preservation interests, planning and economic development agencies, wine grape growers and other agricultural interests and those interested in necessary growth and development to get together to design a strategy to deal with the issue.
Each Agency cannot pursue stand alone actions, be it rate increases, conservation off and on, costly litigation and mutual finger pointing. Some current positions on Ele River diversions or fish protection may need to be modified. Likewise many utility or City and County General Plans may be in part obsolete. Utility rates and developer fees along with supporting plans may no longer be valid. The public and private sections need to get together and develop a concensus where we are heading and the alternatives to get there in order for the appropriate public policy discussions can be put on the table. I suggest the Sonoma County Taxpayers’ Association call for and co-sponsor such a summit.
Kurt Hahn